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4 WILLIAM II

" That is precisely why I deplore so much that the em-
peror should fail to appear in his true colors/' continued

Count S____. "All the qualities which I have just now

ascribed to him are too often concealed beneath a mantle
ofreserve, self-consciousness, nay, even pose. During my
recent interviews with his majesty, whenever we happened
to be alone, he would show himself in the light which I
have just described to you. But let a third person appear
upon the scene—be it even a mere servant—at once his
entire manner would change. The magnetic current so
pleasantly established between us would be cut through,
Ms eyes would lose their kindly, friendly light, and be-
come hard, his attitude self-conscious and constrained, the
very tone of his speech sharp, abrupt, commanding, I
would almost say arrogant. In fact he would give one the
impression that he was playing a r6le—the r61e of em-
peror—that he was, in one word, posing, even if it were
only for the benefit of the menial who had interrupted us.
But when the intruder had vanished, William would, like
a flash, become his own charming self again. That is what
made me exclaim just now, ' if only the kaiser would be
true to himself!—be natural, in fact.' "

" 1 My agree with you, my dear S------," I remarked,

after a short pause. "If the emperor has remained any-
thing like what he was prior to his ascension to the throne,
your estimate of his character is correct.'' And I went on
to relate a little incident which occurred on the occasion
of my first meeting with the emperor many years ago.

This meeting took place on that particular spot where
the empires of Germany, Austria, and Russia may be said
to meet, the frontier guards of each of those three nations
being within hail of one another. The great autumnal
military manoeuvres were in progress, and a merry party,



	4 WILLIAM II " That is precisely why I deplore so much that the em- peror should fail to appear in his true colors/' continued Count S____. "All the qualities which I have just now ascribed to him are too often concealed beneath a mantle ofreserve, self-consciousness, nay, even pose. During my recent interviews with his majesty, whenever we happened to be alone, he would show himself in the light which I have just described to you. But let a third person appear upon the scene—be it even a mere servant—at once his entire manner would change. The magnetic current so pleasantly established between us would be cut through, Ms eyes would lose their kindly, friendly light, and be- come hard, his attitude self-conscious and constrained, the very tone of his speech sharp, abrupt, commanding, I would almost say arrogant. In fact he would give one the impression that he was playing a r6le—the r61e of em- peror—that he was, in one word, posing, even if it were only for the benefit of the menial who had interrupted us. But when the intruder had vanished, William would, like a flash, become his own charming self again. That is what made me exclaim just now, ' if only the kaiser would be true to himself!—be natural, in fact.' " " 1 My agree with you, my dear S------," I remarked, after a short pause. "If the emperor has remained any- thing like what he was prior to his ascension to the throne, your estimate of his character is correct.'' And I went on to relate a little incident which occurred on the occasion of my first meeting with the emperor many years ago. This meeting took place on that particular spot where the empires of Germany, Austria, and Russia may be said to meet, the frontier guards of each of those three nations being within hail of one another. The great autumnal military manoeuvres were in progress, and a merry party,